Rotary



26, 1938. H. PENNINGTON 79 ROTARY x n Filed Oct. 27, 1931 2 Sheets-Shee't 1 v N v I HAR RV PENN INGToN INVENTOR BY M [6 MBM ATTORNEYS April 26, 1938. PENNINGTON Q ROTARY Filed Oct. 27,1951

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Maw/w ATTORNEYS- HA RY PENNINGTON Patented Apr. 26, 1938 'Ro'r AnY- Harry Pennington, San Antonio, Tex. Application October 27. 931. Serial, No, 571,362

.15 Claims (01. 255-23 My invention relates to rotan'es employed in rotating the drilling tool in deep well drilling by the rotary system. The improvement-[relates particularly to means for holding the rotary table 5 in position upon-"the base or bed plate.

Rotaries as'now constructed have ordinarily had no means of easilyremoving, and replacing the means for holding the table on the bed plate. vDue to the upthrust of the beveled pinion upon the beveled table gear the table tends to be lifted in dimcult drilling, thus misaligning the two gears'unlesssuch lifting is counteracted by a suitable hold-down device. It has been found that unless ahold-downdevice'secures the table in is exact concentric rotation and said device is thoroughly lubricated the table will tend to bind and by increased torque will set up a false indication of the nature of the earth formation through which the drill is progressing.

2 7 It is an'object of my inventionto-provide an interior, segmental hold-down ring with means to cause a continuous circulation of oil over said hold-down means operating automatically while the table is rotated... 1

I also desire to provide a combined segmental hold-down ring and radial bearing for the table which will be capable of ready installation or removal and will position the table upon the bed plate for exact concentric rotation. I contemplate so lubricating this bearing that leakage of lubricant during the operation of the table will beavoided.

It'is a further object of the invention to provide an integral shaftsupporting member forming p rt of the bed plate for my table upon which the bearings for the drive shaft may be rigidly positioned so as to avoid any misalignment of the shaft bearings. I

It is a further'object' of my invention to provide a lubricant chamber for the gears and a separate lubricant chamber for shaft bearings so that the proper quality of lubricant may be used in each chamber- I also desire to provide a thrust bearing toreceive the axial thrust of the .pinion and shaft, and to run such thrust bearingeonstantly in a lubricant. 1

-I also desire to provide a table hold down ring inside a chamber with the ring made insegments, whereby the segments may be inserted into a bearing recess in the table.

Also, Idesire to provide a rigid, radial support for the hold-down ring whereby its segments cannot become misaligned.

u A further object is to provide a means of projecting lubricant from between the meshing pinion and. gear teeth, directly inward on to the table shoulder for flooding the same. with.lub1 'i-.

cant where it contacts the segmental hold-down radial bearing ring; the oil being projected through the space that would be occupied .by the omitted segment of hold-down ring. .2

I further desire to provide means in conne'c-f tion with the'segmental hold-down ring whereby the adjustment of the table vertically, due to 10 Wear and the like, may beeasily made.

It is a further object to provide eflective means for lubricating the thrust bearing which receives the thrust of the'pinion, said means beingautomatically" operated through the operation of 1 the drive'pinion. f I aim also to provide a rigid. mounting on the bed plate for the segmental ring.

Other, Jobiects of the invention reside in the particular construction and arrangement of the 0 parts which will be apparent from the descriptioniwhich follows: J T.

In the drawings herewithl ig. l is a side view partly in central vertical section illustrating a rotary embodying my invention. 5

Fig. 2,is a partial top plan view. of 'my inven- 2 tion taken in section on the line'22' of Fig. 1..

Fig. 3 is atop plan assembly view of my device. L l

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the 30 drive bushing employedwith my rotary. M I Fig.5 is a perspective view showing one-half of the slip bushing or adapter employedwith my invention; I Q

Fig. 6 is a broken perspective view illustrating pinion thrust plate which I employ. In constructing my improved rotary I employ a bed plate I which, asshown in Fig. 3, is of a general rect'angularshape. Said bed ,plate is supported upon skids 2, or other'sim'ilar supports; 40 which may be bolted or otherwise securedto the. bed plate or, if desired, may be" made integral therewith. The bed *plateis shown as divided along a transverse line into two'lpart'sfor convenience of manufacture. Said plate is form 45 p adjacent the rotary table with" an upstanding rim 3,which, as seen'in Fig. 1, is; dished out-f wardly and has its upper extremity (received within a groove or channel 5 i nth e rotary table I 6. The bed plate has anopening centrally of 50'} the rotary to receivethe drill stem and the rip ping' means by which it isrotated. 1 a v The rotary table 6 is annular in shape andis adaptedto fit over the upper portion of the. rim 3 of the bed plate. It is supported upon PATENT; orrlca;

the plate through means of a roller bearing said bearings being shown generally at I. Said race is made up of upper-and, lowerplates recessed to reoeive'the frusto-conicai-shaped bear- )ings,* said bearing being held in spaced relation by journals it held within rings 9. This is the ordinary. bearing race; It is'rec'eived in a groove II in the bedplate and an' inner upstanding rim Ii on the bed plate supports the bearing. race on its inner side. Above the bearings the table maybe cored ,out as shown poses of lightening the structure.

means of bolts or may be shrunkin place or secured. by any desirable means. 1

Thetable is held in proper position upon the made in two or more segments for. convenience or bed plate by means of a holddown ring shown at 15. Said ring-is angular in'cross-section' and is installation. It is adaptedto be supported fupon the-rimof said bed plate by means of lugs l6 secured on the rimand which are spaced apart,

I as shown at the-left ofFlg. 2 Boltsflor studs il- [extending throughjthe'lugs' and engaging within the ring hold the same securely inlposition ISaid ring has a downwardly extending flange." at its inner side whichibears against the upper'plate of said race. Above the fla ge i8 the ring is extended laterally at is and eng ges within a recess recesses. will pass around the inner edgeforsaid ring and lubricate the radial thrust bettringbe- ,tween the'tableand the; ringland between the 45.

iacent the pinion whereby theglubricant may becarried by the rotation of said pinion about the ll acting as e t' ine ra a ea' lns-j 1 v 'Th'eupper face oi-theholddown ring li is proilinthe'rotary table. Tiiis'fiange llthusacts to hold the table firmly in position, thelower-iiange I p v p "cured to said plate :by;-means 0t studs"; 7

Inithe operation or myzrotaryjuthe segmental hold-down ring ma 11. adjustable vertically for wear bymeans oi, shims it, secured between'the 'vided with'spaced recesses intolwhichthe oil carried around by thegearringmayf be received. Said oil is heldupon'said ring by the outer upstanding rim 2 3 1 of said ring, it being :obvious from Fig. .1 .that lubricant receivedjwithin, said tabie an'd the roller bearing. V a p The.drive pinion i4. is. mounted upon the reduced end 24 of the drive shattlli. The bed plate has thereon upwardlycurved webs Zlwhich are bored out to receivethe bearings for the drive shaft. Adjacent the driyepinion on said shaitis a thrust plate 21' shown best in Fig. 6.. This thrust 7 plate hasg'aseries' of spiral'jgrooves therein'adface'oi the bearing. Surrounding the thrust late 21 isa flange or rim 2!, the upper portion of v whichis 'extendedfto iormga; cup llto receive lubricant from the gear, ring. .It will be understdod that oil or'lubricant twill collectin' a well I l in the bed plate below Ithe pinion and will be carried {by the rotation of the'pinion into'con'tact I with J the gear by means of which it will be splashed laterally from between the meshing gear teethinto the cup II, this 'cupi't be tied by an inclined groovevl l. tothethrust plate 21 for,- the 'shai't.

I 1 Theroller bearings "fare housed within ates; "ing lflgwhich has a radial flange secured in fluid tight relation to the vlsu'ter' w n or .the well Ii. On-the outerj's'ideflot thebe'arlngfisfa closure D 3 3IS d- B y' .8 318 ilti r k ai tightiiltat flfwith theishaitjythus preventing the loss'oi 'iubricantfoutwardlyirom thebearing. "On the inner side or thebearing is a closure plate" on which-'therim 10 is formed, said plate I 2,115,:279 r being secured tightly tothebearingfhousing a shoulder in the rotary table ,and be thus. 5119- ported. .It may beheld inpositioninsaid table, To, by means of a rotatable latch lihavinglan ope'rj [Within the bushing is shown bushing 48. This is thensuaLslip bushing receive slips by means of which the 'drill stem may I be'supported. I It istotbe understood thata drive bushing maybe substituted therefor if desired. In Fig. 5 I have shownone-halioi; the slip bush-- lubricant to dripinto'the recessed upperfaceoi the hold-down ring. 'From thehcethe'lub'ricant hold-down ring and the tableto. the rotary be'ar- -ings 1 the oil level inthebase plate being-main segmental hold-down ring 'isthus eflectively-lubri V thrust plate'bearings; 21 or receiving the pinion parts will be reduced-tea minimum.

u. separating the housingiromthe well ll. Y

Adjacent the outer-end "of the shaft 2| is a second bearing housing 38 having roller bearings; 39 therein. f Said bearing housing is secured in- 5 tegrally to thebed plate and is closedat'each end by closure plates 40. "On the outer end 01' the shaft I may mount a ratchetshaped locking device ll, with pawls 62 secured in position upon the bed plate and engagingfsa'id ratchet tor lock 1 ing the shaft against rotation.v

' Between the; bearingQ housings-QN' and 3| a sprocket wheel J! is keyed [to the shaft and serves to communicate a rotation to the shaft '/-from a source of power not shown. r 1

- I have shownmy table, as provided withbreak v outpost la whichmaybe .oi any;.preierredoon- "struction. iWithin the central opening through thetable I provide a table bushing whichis provided with a shoulder adapted .to seat upon ating stem 41 thereon. 7

i s is longitudinally.divided;v I

ing removed, it being understood-that said bus'ha a slip receivingas j 0n the lower side of the bed plate monument the opening therethrough isalguard' ring se said r g and the, supportmgiugs ll; Ifhetable drive pinion ll around the bed plate, allowing said will flow around the bearing suri'aoes between the in rotating will carry. lubricantpicked up by'the40f tained'at. the line vx in'Fig. '1. It willthen be carried around to the-side adiacenttheweliil. into whichit will flow to againibe circulated. The

cated'and the thrust surfaces on; theiinner side of the hold-down ring are also fedcopiously with lubricant so as to prevent any'tendency-ior binding, during thelrotation of the ,-tab le'.=' On the r thrust,.;there will be a'conti'nuous and automatic circulation oi lubricant mm the well i i through The inner parts 21 willf also be eflectively lubricated so thatthe principalbearing surfaces, both oi the drive-shaft and ;the.rotary, will-be con-Q,

stantlyf bathed in'oil. "The: necessityiorlubrieating at frequent intervalswill he therefore avoided and -frictional, wear upon the movi It is to be notedlthat theflttingbf the of the bed plate within the groove! in the-rotary- Q prevents the mud and-othenforeignmaterial from: J

the inner side the table isextende'd downwardly past thebearin'gs so-that mud. -will:-'flow=downg 1 wardly away from the bearings. 'Whenitisseen that wearhas occurred between the'tabIe and the bed plate, which allowsf'play between the arty- ,flndingaccess tothe'bearings oi'the-rotary. 02170 which I have illustrated lies in. the forming of p the bearing housings 34 and" integral with the outer half bed plate, whereby they are held rigidly in position and cannot be moved out of alignment with each other.' The maintaining of the shaft in alignment is therefore a simple matter thus avoiding a common diiliculty in the operation of the'rotary. 'I'hefurther advantage of my invention will be obvious to those, skilled in the art.

There is no vertical adjustment of the outer one half i' of the bed plate with its integral bearing housings 34 and. 30, for there is a circular male and female fitting joint of the housing with the rim 3. When assembled the shaft and bearings are permanently aligned on the outer half i of bed plate, and said outerhalr is also permanently aligned with the innerhalf I of bed plate.

What I claim as new is: r

i. In an oil bath rotary for well drilling, a bed plate, a table rotatable thereon, means onsaid bed plate and table to'form an enclosed chamber between the same, a table supporting bearing on said bedplate in said chamber, a gear ring on said table within said chamber, a hold-down ring attached to said bed plate to hold said table on said bed platejsaid holddown ring having a series of depressions on the upper surface thereof'to receive oil and conduct said all radially inwardly for lubricating purposes.

2. In an oil bath rotary for well drilling, a bed plate divided transversely into two parts, a table rotatable on one of. said parts, means on said table and bedplate forming'a chamber between the same, a gear on saidtable, a shaft, a pinion thereon engaging said gear within said chamber, shaft bearings'formed on the second of said bed plate parts, said shaft projecting through an opening in said chamber, means on one of said shaft bearing housings closing'said opening in said chamber to contain lubricant, and means to close said housing about said shaft.

3. In a rotary for well drilling, a bed plate con-. sisting of a plurality of parts, a table supported in rotatable position on one of said bed plate parts, a chamber formed between said table and bed plate, there being a lateral opening into said chamber, a shaft, a bearing housing therefor, a pinion on said shaft, the assembly of said shaft, bearing housing and pinion being mounted removable from said table, on another part of said bed plate from said table, an inner shaft bearing housing of said assembly fitting said bed plate with a fluid tight connection therebetween, said assembly being positioned by inserting said shaft into said lateral opening and securing said bed plate parts together.

4. In a rotary for well drilling, a bed plate, an upstanding annular rim thereon enclosing a chamber, a table rotatable'above said rim and co-operating therewith to keep out slush, a gear on said table, said table having alateral opening, means, engaging said gear to drive said table, a series of supports on said bed plate rim withinthe same and a hold-down ring on said supportsand supported against movement radially thereon, said ring being formed in segments adapted to be introduced through said opening.

5. In a rotary machine of the type employed in the drilling of oil wells, the combination of: a

cooperating to provide an annular oilchamber; a main bearing supported by said base and base; a table above said base', said table and base.

in said oil chamber, means fordriving tary table, including a pinion,'.and a ringfgear mounted onsaid rotary table within said chamber, said. pinion, being adapted to deliver on to said ring gear; and means for directingthe oil from said-ring gearinwardly abovethe oil level of said chamber to said :main bearings.

6. In a rotary machine of the type employed the drilling of oil wells, the combination-oft":

base having an annularoil channel; a rotary table above said base and cooperating therewith to form a closed-chamber in which said oil channel is located; a'; bearing in said chamber and located in said oil channelforrotatably' supporting saidtable; aring gear on said table'within said chamber; means for supplying said ring gear with oil, said oil falling from said'ring gear; and

meansfor intercepting saidoilfalling from said ringgear and delivering same to said bearing.

"I. Ina rotary machine of the type employed in the drilling of oil wells, ..the, combination of: a' base having an annular oil channel; a rotary table above said base and cooperating therewith to forma closed chamberin which said oil chan nel is located; a bearing in said chamber disposedwithin said on channel forrotatably, support ng saidtable; aring gear on said table within said chamber; meansfor supplyingsaid ring gear with oil, said oil-falling from said ringgear; ands pan in said chamber below said ring gear for, intercepting said oil falling from said ring gear.

and delivering same to said bearing.

. 8. A rotary machine of the type employed in the drilling of oil wells, combination of: a base having an annular oil channel; a rotary table above said base and cooperating therewith -to form a closed chamber in which said oil channel is located; a bearing in said chamber insaid oil channel for rotatably supporting said table; a i I ring gear on said table within said chamber; 7

means for supplying said ring gear with oil, said machine being constructed so that the oil falling from said ring gear will serve to lubricate saidv bearing, and hold-down means for said table. 9. In an oil bath rotary for well drilling, a table,

a bed plate supporting said table, an upstanding Y rim integral with said bed plate, a downwardly extending annular projection on said table form-' ing a chamberbetween said bed plate and said table, a gear on said table within said chamber, a bearing on said bedplate, a separate segmental hold down ring attached to said bed plate, and supported within the said chamber and arranged to hold said table on said bed plate, and a lubricating system contained within said chamber, said gear acting to deliver lubricant to said segmental ring.

10. In an oil bath rotary for well a bed plate, a rotary table thereon, means forming an enclosure between said bed plate and said table, a table supporting bearing within said enclosure, a hold down ring spaced above said bed plateon the inner wall ofsaid enclosure, said table having an annular recess therein, a flange on said ring en.- gaging within said recess to hold said table on said bed plateduring rotation, said hold down ring being detachable and removable from said enclosure, a gear on said table, a drivepinion for said gonna lubricating well beneath said drivepinionin. said bedplate and recesses on said ;ringto; receive]oil from said gear and conduct the 'sam e to ings.

;.;-ii. In an oil bath rotariior welldrillin'zta bed =piate,,a table, rotatable thereon, an 'annula'r rupstanding I extension: integral: withjsa'id bed plate,

j anannular downward.,;,extension"on said table iii-{forming anjenplosure.gbetween-said.extensions'on ll I "said tableand platefa table'support'in'zbearfin onwsaid ;bed-z'platewithin said-enclosure; a {radial bearing ring engaging'esaid -tablef"within Q saidienclosurerand spacedabove'said'ibed'plate; I 19 said' ring beingv supported-imposition by said ,up- I "(ward extension on 'said'bed plate-,and-meanstd' 1 v rotate said table operating to circulate lirbricant withinsa'idenclosure.

-12. In a rotary iorwellidrillink, "a plate, a

16 table thereomi neans including an upwardly exi tendingwall iormed' integrally onfsaid'bed plate and forming enclosure between said plate Hand table, atabldsupporting' bearin'g between said a 'tableandsaid bed-plzitd'arinZ gear-'on-said table, bold-down meansmountedEdetaehably on said wailinlsaid enclosure to' holdfsaidntable onfsald bed plate', said means co'nsistingoi a segmental ren' ovable'ring positioned-directly below :said'gear to receive oil i'romsaidf gear and directitm said "bearings for -oiling said bearing and; said hold Q13. In a rotary drillini' machinepa bedpla' te, a

" tableiotatable on said'bedpiatqmeans iorming g an enclosure between'said' table and plate,"'a thrus't, bearing within said enclosure, a gear yon Q 'saidtable, a pinion engaging said gearwithin said enclosure, means consiating oi ja seainen tal rinl mounted on the inner-wall of saidenciosure to hold said table on said bed plate acting also as a radial thrust bearing'fs'a id 'g'ear acting to circulate V lubricant onto said ring and an outer rim on said I ring to deflect said lubricant upon said radial" bearing v pa j a '14. In an oil bath'rotary for well drilling, a bed a plate, a table rotatable thereon, an an'nula'nupj standing extension on said bed plate, an annular ii kdownw'ard extension'on said table formingf with. f v said bed plate extension an enclosure between said table and bed plate, a table 'supporting'bear:

' ing on said bed plate withinsaid enclosuraa-radial bearing ring on said bed plate insidesaid en- 1i 'closurejjrneans to hold said'r'a'dial bearingring'in 1 permanent alignment whereby said tableis caused to rotate concentrically, andrn'eans in said.;en-. closureffoit"circuiatinglubricant to said radialt m na 15. .In a rotary drilling "inachine, a table. a

' plate therefor, a thrust bearing between said table i and bed plate, a chamberbetween'said table-and bed plate, a gear in saidxchamber, a drive shaft, a

pinion thereon engaging said gear, a thrustplate ,ior'receiving the thrust of said pinion, said plate "being, secured about said shaft and closing said I chamber, said pinion acting to circulate lubricant J around said tableand'tosaid thrust bearing. a 

